Does Ammonia Attack Gold Parts/nibs?

[djmaher]

Somewhat popular consensus is that ammonia found in both DIY pen cleaning solutions, as well as some commercially available solutions, attacks the gold, especially in nibs. I would imagine that this could be problematic, especially in vintage pens.

 

I'm prone to soaking pens that may have a bad buildup in a section/nib area. In the past, I've mostly used the DIY recipe offered here on FPN by posters (10 parts water/1 part ammonia/a few drops of dish wash soap) or thereabouts, always using a bit less ammonia to maybe make the dilution less strong.

 

Is any potential damage attributed to soaking, as opposed to flushing repeatedly? It's probably fair to say that our collective pen cleaning habits are all different, and I would imagine it would also depend on the pen as to techniques for cleaning specific models.

 

So, maybe I'm just trying to get a bit of clarification, and further understanding.

 

Does ammonia attack the gold found in some fountain pens?

 

If so, what does that "damage" look like? Is it just corrosion, or worse?

 

Are vintage pens more susceptible than newer pens?

 

Is it possible to be too fussy about pen cleaning, as long as you are reasonably careful in choosing cleaning agents, for both pen exterior and interior components.?

 

 

[Ron Z]

The argument is that it makes the gold brittle. You don't see corrosion like you would with aluminum or other metals. The concentration is relatively low, exposure to the ammonia is short, and you follow it with a clear water rinse after, so IMCO, the risk is minimal.

 

Soaking in the ammonia solution on the other hand could be a bit more problematic. I soak in clear water, but clean with the ammonia/detergent solution.

[djmaher]

Exactly the thing I was looking for.

 

If one is the from the school of "do no harm", does a couple of drops of Dawn only in soaking water help shift heavy buildup, or is it just a waste of time?

 

I'm in the market for an ultrasonic (sent email on your website), and would be looking for an appropriate "cleaning" solution for that water bath. Would the DIY mix work for that short duration of contact, much as short duration flushing would?

 

I've soaked in very dilute ammonia solution before, for problem cases of cleaning. Maybe I wont do that anymore.

 

So, short-term clean and flush, yes. Longer-term soaking (hours to days), no, maybe not......

 

 

I kind of wonder how many of us do that same thing, just not thinking that there could be potential for damage there.

 

 

I'm assuming that steel-nib pens are relatively safe? Or, does ammonia still attack metals, including chrome and exposed base metals as well?

 

 

Thanks, Ron.....

[Ron Z]

An ultrasonic needs something to work with, so some cleaning solution is necessary. Dawn by itself is usually insufficient. The ammonia/Dawn mix is what is in my ultrasonic cleaner. For really stubborn stuff, we recommend using Rapidoeze pen cleaner. You can buy a quart of it for about $30 on line. Rather than fill the tank, I put it in a pudding cup, which sits in the water in the tank. The energy will be passed onto the solution in the cup.

 

re. steel and metals other than gold. Again, strength of solution and immersion time makes a difference. We usually use a couple of 3 minute cycles, followed by a rinse, so I don't think that exposure time is long enough to do any damage.

 

re. which ultrasonic to use. I like the ones made sold by Staedtler Mars - round with a square power button, and a red neon lamp. They were made in Texas by a company called Rotex Manufacturing until about 10 or 12 years ago. They also appeared under the name "Charette". The company folded some time ago, but you do find the cleaners on ebay from time to time.

 

Most of the ultrasonic cleaners are now made in China. You only need about 50W of power. Avoid the ones with the buttons on the lid because the wires run through the hinge and break fairly quickly.

[enchiridion]

no it does not attack the gold but the copper in the alloy. 18 carat has less copper than 14 carat, but is softer. The copper serves to give rigidity (even when copper itself is pretty soft itself)

[bsenn]

Maybe I've been lucky, but in cleaning a few hundred vintage pen sections I've only resorted to ammonia in a handful of cases where it was obvious that something other than fountain pen ink was used in the pen. The rest cleaned up with Dawn and a day or two or three of non-sonicated soaking (with water changes as needed).

 

Then again, I'm in no hurry, so a few days of soaking doesn't bother me. I'm sure ammonia solution and an ultrasonic would go faster.

 

For pens I have been using but am going to put away or change inks in, I generally give it an hour soak in the Dawn/water, rinse, and it's clean enough. I use mostly normal, basic vintage inks though.

 

Related, who flinches when finding pens and/or bottles of fountain pen ink along with bottles of drawing/India ink out in the wild? Ouch...